In just a few short breaths, Joe Di made his decision.
His cultivation might be lacking, but he could not underestimate the physical strength of the late-stage Celestial Physique.
Though he had never experienced the bustling Immortal Realm, even there, few would possess a late-stage Celestial Physique. As for using cosmic membrane fragments to temper one’s body, perhaps none at all.
In other words, his physical strength stood among the very pinnacle of the Immortal Realm. If even he could not enter here, then few in the realm could.
With that thought, Joe Di sent the True Spirit World into his sea of consciousness, then raised his hand to send the Primordial Thunderstone into the True Spirit World. Before the next wave of thunder columns could strike, he charged into the vortex.
The Titan Body Technique surged within him, every fiber of his being straining to its limit; at this moment, Joe Di could only place his hopes on luck.
Boom! The instant Joe Di rushed into the vortex, a terrifying, extreme rotational force swept over him.
Joe Di felt as if he were being sliced apart by a thousand blades. The agony was indescribable, a relentless torrent that tore through flesh and soul. His consciousness flickered, and within just a few breaths, he was swallowed by darkness.
......
Joe Di had no idea how much time had passed when he awoke. The first thing he felt upon opening his eyes was excitement—he was still alive. As long as he was alive, that was the greatest fortune.
But after the excitement faded, Joe Di realized something was wrong—he had lost all sensation throughout his body, as if he were trapped in a shell of numbness. Fortunately, his spiritual sense remained, a faint thread anchoring him to life. When Joe Di focused his awareness on himself, even he was stunned by the devastation he witnessed.
Ever since he began body refinement, suffering serious injuries was a matter of course, almost routine. But never before had he been wounded so gravely.
In the past, no matter how severe his injuries during body refinement, his flesh and blood always remained intact. Now, it seemed that only his bones were left. To call him a skeleton might be an exaggeration, but he was not far from it.
A few scraps of flesh clung desperately to his shattered bones, blood dripping in slow, crimson beads. Even his heart, shielded by bone, had been savagely torn open.
Luckily, his sea of consciousness was condensed, and his soul remained strong—his spirit had not been harmed.
Joe Di took a breath. It was fortunate that his bones were so resilient; otherwise, he might have been reduced to nothing but a soul by now.
Once again, the benefits of body refinement were clear: as long as his bones remained, his recovery would not greatly affect his cultivation.
The void was vast and boundless. Occasionally, meteors streaked past Joe Di’s spiritual sense, magnificent and grand. Yet to him, this void felt bleak and gray.
Joe Di immediately entered the True Spirit World. He was glad he’d been cautious enough to store it in his sea of consciousness; otherwise, the True Spirit World might never have belonged to him again.
“Big brother, how did you end up like this...” Blackfire and Sprout rushed over when they saw Joe Di’s condition, both anxiously questioning him.
Sprout’s first thought was that if their big brother had been wounded by a powerful foe, simply hiding in the True Spirit World wouldn’t solve anything.
Blackfire and Sprout knew Joe Di had charged into Stormhaven Island, but they hadn’t realized he’d entered the void vortex at its center.
Joe Di grabbed several healing elixirs and swallowed them—these pills had been found in the sect masters’ rings.
"Ah..." A hoarse cry sounded. Joe Di turned to see Moria Lane sitting up, staring at him.
"Oh, Moria, you’re starting to recover?" Joe Di looked at Moria Lane in surprise—her charred body had healed considerably, at least enough to resemble a human again.
At this moment, the only one who didn’t look human was Joe Di himself—or rather, in this True Spirit World, there wasn’t a single being who looked truly human.
"You’re Joe Di?" Moria Lane finally remembered, exclaiming in shock once more.
Joe Di let out a laugh, his voice ragged as though cutting through the wind. "Moria, it’s wonderful that you’ve regained your senses..."
Originally, Joe Di had planned to ask Moria Lane how she’d recovered her mind and even part of her body. But when he saw the partially depleted Wood Elemental Ley Line beneath her, he understood instantly.
He felt foolish—had he known the Wood Elemental Ley Line would help Moria Lane, he would have sent her into the True Spirit World long ago.
Moria Lane stared blankly at Joe Di. She hadn’t quite recovered all her memories yet, but she still asked, "How did you end up like this?"
Sprout immediately replied, "Big brother did it for you. He went into Stormhaven Island alone to save you—it's a place where people go to die. Big brother, were your wounds caused by the thunder?"
After speaking, Moria Lane finally recalled everything that had happened. The moments spent by Joe Di’s side went from vague to clear in her mind.
Ever since she fell into obsession at Puregate Sect, Joe Di had traveled with her through the Twilight Domain, then led her into the Skyveil Pit...
When Joe Di was nearly slain by the Celestial Fire Spirit, she instinctively tried to save him, only to be burned like this by the spirit.
Joe Di hadn’t abandoned her. After leaving the Skyveil Pit, he searched everywhere for life-saving celestial herbs. With what Sprout had just said, Moria Lane fully understood why Joe Di was so gravely wounded.
It was all for her—he was injured by the thunder arcs of Thunder Float Island while searching for healing medicines.
"Brother Joe, I’m sorry..." Moria Lane said with some anxiety, knowing her own situation.
Although the Wood Elemental Ley Line had restored her mind, her injuries were truly beyond healing. She had been burned by the Celestial Fire Spirit—where could she possibly find a cure for such wounds?
Joe Di swallowed a few more healing elixirs and waved his hand. "I wanted to leave the Immortal Realm, but was nearly shredded by the void vortex. Still, I made it. As long as we reach Cauldron Haven, we’ll find something to heal you."
With a sweep of his spiritual sense, Joe Di could tell that Moria Lane’s mind had recovered, and even her body might eventually heal—but none of this would matter if her wounds from the Celestial Fire Spirit remained untreated. Her recovery was only superficial.
"Brother Joe, I can't be healed. You don't have to risk your life for me..." Moria Lane felt even more anxious.
Puregate Sect had always been a sect devoted to selfless giving. Even in the cultivation world, she had fought to protect it and safeguard the other sects.
Ever since she fell into obsession at Puregate Sect, Joe Di had traveled with her through the Twilight Domain, then led her into the Skyveil Pit...
Joe Di smiled faintly, his voice still ragged. "Moria, we’re friends. When I ascended to the Immortal Realm, you guarded my Star River Sect for a time. And you risked your life for me in the Skyveil Pit. Searching for healing herbs for you is only right."
"No..." Moria Lane quickly waved her hand. "That’s not the same. Even if I didn’t know you, if anyone attacked Star River Sect, I would have stepped in. That’s just what I do..."
She didn’t know what else to say. She had only done what she believed was right. After Joe Di rescued her at Puregate Sect, he had never abandoned her. In the cultivation world, Puregate disciples were often targets for scheming cultivators. Even in the Immortal Realm, she had been hunted by many.
Not only did Joe Di never covet her Immaculate Spirit Physique, he had risked his life to save her many times.
If Joe Di had feelings for her, it would make sense—though she could never become his Dao partner, she would gladly give her life to repay such kindness. But she knew Joe Di didn’t save her out of affection; it was simply because they had once met, a trivial bond that weighed heavily on her selfless Puregate heart.
Joe Di chuckled. "I don’t think that was just your duty. I think what you said to me back then was right: stay true to yourself, don’t blindly follow the teachings left by your master or sect leader. Sometimes, even they might be wrong."
Moria Lane fell silent. After a while, her gaze landed on a fruit tree not far away, and she exclaimed in delight, "Brother Joe, there are Rainbow Immortal Peaches here! Take one quickly—they’re the best for refining the body and boosting vitality."
The Rainbow Immortal Peach couldn’t extend Joe Di’s lifespan, but with his body a bloody mess and nearly reduced to a skeleton, just one peach could restore most of his flesh. After that, all he needed was time to cultivate.
Puregate Sect had always been a sect devoted to selfless giving. Even in the cultivation world, she had fought to protect it and safeguard the other sects.
Now, she was being rescued so desperately by someone she barely knew—how could she not feel anxious? As a Puregate Sect disciple, she was never meant to receive such help. Puregate Sect was always the one to aid others, its disciples the ones to sacrifice.
Joe Di smiled faintly, his voice still ragged. "Moria, we’re friends. When I ascended to the Immortal Realm, you guarded my Starstream Order for a time. And you risked your life for me in the Skyveil Pit. Searching for healing herbs for you is only right."
"No..." Moria Lane quickly waved her hand. "That’s not the same. Even if I didn’t know you, if anyone attacked Starstream Order, I would have stepped in. That’s just what I do..."
"Ah..." Moria Lane was stunned again.